Volume Ii Part 7 (1/2)
Kate was silenced; but though she could think of nothing more to urge, she was very far from feeling easy on the subject.
”I hope with all my heart it will be settled amicably,” she added at length.
”There is every probability that it will. Though the story sounds so strangely to you now--just as it did to me, at first--yet when you come to hear all the facts, you will find there is scarcely room for a shadow of doubt.”
”How sorry mother and Patsey will be when they hear it!”
”I can't see why they should be sorry to see a man reinstated in his rights, after having been deprived of them for eighteen years. If they are not blinded by their partiality for the Wyllyses and Hazlehursts, they cannot help being convinced by the evidence we can show.”
”How old is this man--this sailor--this Mr. Stanley?”
”Just thirty-six, he tells me. Did you remark his likeness to Mr.
Stanley's portrait at Wyllys-Roof? that was the first thing that struck me.”
”No; I hardly looked at him.”
”You must expect to see him often now; I have invited him to dinner for to-morrow.”
”For to-morrow? Well, Uncle Dozie has sent me this afternoon a beautiful mess of green peas, and you will have to get something nice from market, in the way of poultry and fish. Though, I suppose as he has been a common sailor so long, he won't be very particular about his dinner.”
”He knows what is good, I can tell you. You must give him such a dinner as he would have had at his father's in old times.”
”Well, just as you please, William; only, if you really care for me, do not let the man deceive you; be sure you sift the matter thoroughly--what you call cross-examine him.”
”Never you fear; I know what I am about, Katie; though if I was to follow your advice in law matters, I reckon we should all of us starve together.”
”I hope it will all turn out well, but I seem to feel badly about it,” said Kate with a sigh, as she rose to light a candle; ”only don't be too hasty--take time.”
”We have taken time enough I think, as it is. We are only waiting now for Mr. Hazlehurst to arrive in Philadelphia, when we shall put forward our claim.”
CHAPTER IV. {XXVII}
”They call thee rich.”
COWPER.
{William Cowper (English poet, 1731-1800), ”Translations of Greek Verses: On A Miser” line 1}
WHEN the Wyllyses arrived at Saratoga, after having paid their promised visit to their friends at Poughkeepsie, the first persons they saw in the street, as they were driving to Congress Hall, were Mrs. Creighton, Mr. Ellsworth, and Mr. Stryker, who were loitering along together. It seemed the excursion to Nahant had been postponed, or given up.
The brother and sister soon discovered that the Wyllyses were among that afternoon's arrivals, and in the course of an hour or two called at their rooms.
”Here am I, Miss Wyllys,” said Mrs. Creighton, ”the best of sisters, giving up my own private plans to gratify this brother of mine, who would not let me rest unless I promised to pa.s.s another week here.”
”Josephine makes the most of her complaisance; but I don't think she was so very much averse to giving up Nahant. I am sure at least, she did not care half so much about going, as I did about staying.”
Mr. Stryker also appeared, to make his bow to the ladies. This gentleman had indeed come to Saratoga, with the express intention of making himself particularly agreeable to Miss Elinor Wyllys.
As long ago as Jane's wedding, he had had his eye on her, but, like Mr. Ellsworth, he had seldom been able to meet her. Mr.